Consequences(241)

Claire thought he had a picture of almost every time she was out of the house during the first six months of her imprisonment. “You don’t understand. I was only allowed out—”

“Mrs. Rawlings, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your reasons for exaggerating the truth when your attorney is cross-examining you. This is my opportunity. I’ll ask the questions.” He went on in his condescending tone, asking about supposed physical abuse. Did she have any doctor’s statements? Had she reported the abuse? Had she even told Mr. Rawlings she didn’t like it?

This again got Jane and Paul out of their seats. Claire felt ill. Her head pounded and her blood sugar felt low. She leaned toward Jane. “Could we break for lunch?”

While Paul went to get sandwiches, Jane and Claire spoke, privately. Claire had told them all the information before. She had explained how Tony controlled her, she hadn’t been allowed to complain, she couldn’t leave her suite for the longest time, and she was never allowed to leave the property without his permission, even after they were married, but the way Mr. Evergreen twisted it—it seemed like she was some kind of prostitute. He made it seem like she was after Anthony’s money from the beginning.

Jane reassured Claire that the defense had an opportunity to ask more questions following the prosecution. That would be their time to explain things to the jury. However, even Jane admitted concern about the pictures showing Claire and Anthony out in public. Claire didn’t look like a woman being held against her will. Jane had photos on her laptop sent by Mr. Evergreen during the preexamination. She pulled up a picture of Anthony and Claire at an upscale Manhattan restaurant.

Claire remembered that night—Tony had completed a big business deal and they had celebrated before dinner. She remembered hating him that night; however, the person in the picture didn’t look like she hated him. The Claire in the picture was exquisitely dressed, beautiful, contented, and attentive—the perfect companion. The realization that she’d learned her lessons too well began to add to her pounding head.

Feeling more nourished, Mr. Evergreen resumed the questioning, “Mrs. Rawlings, you stated Anthony Rawlings was physically and mentally abusive, yet you decided to marry him. Isn’t that true?”

“Yes.”

“Now, can you please tell us who took care of the wedding? And if it was nice?”

“Tony paid for the wedding, he hired wedding planners, they did everything, and it was beautiful. You should know—you were there.”

“Do you have any idea of the cost of your wedding?”

“No.”

“Well, for your information it came to over 350 thousand dollars. Your dress alone was over 70 thousand dollars.” Claire really had no idea. “And those figures do not include your rings or your honeymoon. Mrs. Rawlings, can you tell us where you went on your honeymoon?”

“We went to Fiji—to a private island.”

“The cost of this honeymoon, Mrs. Rawlings, do you know the cost?”

“No. It was never discussed with me. I didn’t care about the money!” Claire suddenly felt tired.

“When you were apprehended, you were driving a very expensive car—registered to you—wearing multiple pieces of fine jewelry, and expensive clothes. Do you still claim you didn’t care about money?”

“I drove that car because I found the keys. The clothes and jewelry were all because Tony made me wear them—I didn’t even choose my own clothes that morning.”

Mr. Evergreen went back to his laptop. “Now back to your wedding. Did you know that you and Mr. Rawlings didn’t have a prenuptial agreement?”